NORWOOD – For a third-straight year Moeller basketball is headed to the state tournament.

The Crusaders defeated Centerville 59-41 at Xavier University's Cintas Center, Saturday evening, to earn their third-straight trip to the Ohio High School Athletic Association Division I Final Four. The current regional-championship run also includes a state runner-up finish in 2017 and a state championship last year.

"Really, all three teams were very different teams, different kids," Moeller coach Carl Kremer said. "They're just living the moment. These guys are on a journey. They're not done yet and we've got a lot of work to do."

The Crusaders are now 27-0 on the season and have won 47-consecutive games. They last lost to an Ohio team on March 25, 2017; a 39-38 decision to Massillon Jackson in the state championship game.

"It's definitely different," Moeller senior and West Virginia signee Miles McBride said of Saturday's regional championship compared to previous years. "You know, as a senior, this is the goal from Day 1. Coming together, getting all the young guys, it's what we wanted to do as a full team. This was our mission."

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Moeller head coach Carl Kremer and West Virginia head coach Bob Huggins meet after the boys regional final against Centerville at the Cintas Center at Xavier University. Moeller defeated Centerville 59-41 and will move on to the Final Four in Columbus. Jim Owens for The Enquirer

Moeller guard Michael Shipp tries to go baseline in the Boys Regional Final against Centerville at the Cintas Center at Xavier University. Moeller defeated Centerville 59-41 and will move on to the Final Four in Columbus. Jim Owens for The Enquirer

Moeller guard Alec Pfriem tries to go baseline in the Boys Regional Final against Centerville at the Cintas Center at Xavier University. Moeller defeated Centerville 59-41 and will move on to the Final Four in Columbus. Jim Owens for The Enquirer

Moeller guard Michael Shipp [4] blocks the shot of Centerville forward Kaleb Mitchell in the Boys Regional Final against Centerville at the Cintas Center at Xavier University. Moeller defeated Centerville 59-41 and will move on to the Final Four in Columbus. Jim Owens for The Enquirer

Moeller guard Alec Pfriem scores and gets the And 1 in the Boys Regional Final against Centerville at the Cintas Center at Xavier University. Moeller defeated Centerville 59-41 and will move on to the Final Four in Columbus. Jim Owens for The Enquirer

Moeller guard Max Land drives to the hoop in the Boys Regional Final against Centerville at the Cintas Center at Xavier University. Moeller defeated Centerville 59-41 and will move on to the Final Four in Columbus. Jim Owens for The Enquirer

Moeller forward Alex Mitchell attempts a layup in the paint in the Boys Regional Final against Centerville at the Cintas Center at Xavier University. Moeller defeated Centerville 59-41 and will move on to the Final Four in Columbus. Jim Owens for The Enquirer

Moeller forward Alex Mitchell attempts a layup in the paint in the Boys Regional Final against Centerville at the Cintas Center at Xavier University. Moeller defeated Centerville 59-41 and will move on to the Final Four in Columbus. Jim Owens for The Enquirer

Moeller guard Max Land accelerates toward the hoop in the paint in the Boys Regional Final against Centerville at the Cintas Center at Xavier University. Moeller defeated Centerville 59-41 and will move on to the Final Four in Columbus. Jim Owens for The Enquirer

Moeller center Logan Duncomb and Centerville forward Mo Njie battlee for position in the paint in the Boys Regional Final against Centerville at the Cintas Center at Xavier University. Moeller defeated Centerville 59-41 and will move on to the Final Four in Columbus. Jim Owens for The Enquirer

Moeller guard Miles McBride dribbles up the court on a fast break in the Boys Regional Final against Centerville at the Cintas Center at Xavier University. Moeller defeated Centerville 59-41 and will move on to the Final Four in Columbus. Jim Owens for The Enquirer

West Virginia head coach Bob Huggins and Mountaineers recruit Miles McBride meet after the boys regional final against Centerville at the Cintas Center at Xavier University. Moeller defeated Centerville 59-41 and will move on to the Final Four in Columbus. Jim Owens for The Enquirer

Moeller forward Alex Williams drives through the middle of the Centerville defense in the boys regional final against Centerville at the Cintas Center at Xavier University. Moeller defeated Centerville 59-41 and will move on to the Final Four in Columbus. Jim Owens for The Enquirer

Moeller center Logan Duncomb scores in the boys regional final against Centerville at the Cintas Center at Xavier University. Moeller defeated Centerville 59-41 and will move on to the Final Four in Columbus. Jim Owens for The Enquirer

Moeller guard Alec Pfriem drives and scores in the boys regional final against Centerville at the Cintas Center at Xavier University. Moeller defeated Centerville 59-41 and will move on to the Final Four in Columbus. Jim Owens for The Enquirer

Moeller forward Alex Williams flexes after scoring and drawing a foul in the boys regional final against Centerville at the Cintas Center at Xavier University. Moeller defeated Centerville 59-41 and will move on to the Final Four in Columbus. Jim Owens for The Enquirer

Moeller guard Miles McBride signals after hitting a three point shot in the boys regional final against Centerville at the Cintas Center at Xavier University. Moeller defeated Centerville 59-41 and will move on to the Final Four in Columbus. Jim Owens for The Enquirer

Moeller guard Max Land scores in the boys regional final against Centerville at the Cintas Center at Xavier University. Moeller defeated Centerville 59-41 and will move on to the Final Four in Columbus. Jim Owens for The Enquirer

Moeller guard Michael Shipp looks to pass in the boys regional final against Centerville at the Cintas Center at Xavier University. Moeller defeated Centerville 59-41 and will move on to the Final Four in Columbus. Jim Owens for The Enquirer

Moeller guard Max Land slashes through the lane in the boys regional final against Centerville at the Cintas Center at Xavier University. Moeller defeated Centerville 59-41 and will move on to the Final Four in Columbus. Jim Owens for The Enquirer

Moeller guard Alec Pfriem drives and scores in the boys regional final against Centerville at the Cintas Center at Xavier University. Moeller defeated Centerville 59-41 and will move on to the Final Four in Columbus. Jim Owens for The Enquirer

Moeller guard Michael Shipp scores in the boys regional final against Centerville at the Cintas Center at Xavier University. Moeller defeated Centerville 59-41 and will move on to the Final Four in Columbus. Jim Owens for The Enquirer

Moeller guard Miles McBride scores in the boys regional final against Centerville at the Cintas Center at Xavier University. Moeller defeated Centerville 59-41 and will move on to the Final Four in Columbus. Jim Owens for The Enquirer

Moeller forward Alex Williams scores in the boys regional final against Centerville at the Cintas Center at Xavier University. Moeller defeated Centerville 59-41 and will move on to the Final Four in Columbus. Jim Owens for The Enquirer

Moeller guard Alec Pfriem drives and scores in the boys regional final against Centerville at the Cintas Center at Xavier University. Moeller defeated Centerville 59-41 and will move on to the Final Four in Columbus. Jim Owens for The Enquirer

The Moeller Crusaders pose with their Regional Championship Trophy in the boys regional final against Centerville at the Cintas Center at Xavier University. Moeller defeated Centerville 59-41 and will move on to the Final Four in Columbus. Jim Owens for The Enquirer

Moeller guard Alec Pfriem helps cut down the net after the boys regional final against Centerville at the Cintas Center at Xavier University. Moeller defeated Centerville 59-41 and will move on to the Final Four in Columbus. Jim Owens for The Enquirer

Purcell Marian's Jared Baldock sets and connects for two to open the game against Anna during their Division III regional final at Trent Arena in Kettering Saturday, March 16, 2019. E.L. Hubbard for The Enquirer

Purcell Marian's Clarke Jefferson cuts the net after the Cavaliers defeated Anna in their Division III regional final at Trent Arena in Kettering Saturday, March 16, 2019. E.L. Hubbard for The Enquirer

Moeller guard Miles McBride knocks down a three-point shot at the end of the first quarter in the boys regional final against Centerville at the Cintas Center at Xavier University. Jim Owens for The Enquirer

Moeller guard Michael Currin weaves through the Centerville defense in the Boys Regional Final against Centerville at the Cintas Center at Xavier University. Moeller defeated Centerville 59-41 and will move on to the Final Four in Columbus. Jim Owens for The Enquirer

Moeller guard Michael Shipp looks to pass in the Boys Regional Final against Centerville at the Cintas Center at Xavier University. Moeller defeated Centerville 59-41 and will move on to the Final Four in Columbus. Jim Owens for The Enquirer

Moeller got help from everywhere Saturday. Sophomore Alex Williams came off the bench to record a game-high 16 points. McBride chipped in 13 points and six assists and junior Max Land scored 15.

Williams was an issue for the Elks the entire game. The sophomore helped hold 6-foot-9 Centerville center Mo Njie to just two points and four rebounds. Njie, a junior, had a triple-double performance against Springfield in the regional semifinal.

"It was good, my team helped me a lot," Williams said of guarding Njie. "Every time he got the ball inside, my team came around me and helped me. It was a team thing."

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Moeller forward Alex Williams flexes after scoring and drawing a foul in the boys regional final against Centerville at the Cintas Center at Xavier University. Moeller defeated Centerville 59-41 and will move on to the Final Four in Columbus.(Photo: Jim Owens for The Enquirer)

Moeller went 22-of-39 from the field Saturday. The Elks (22-6) finished 15-of-41. Centerville had an off night shooting all around as they finished just 6-of-15 from the foul line. The Crusaders went 12-of-15 from the charity stripe with Land and McBride going 5-for-5 and 4-for-4, respectively.

"We just kept attacking the rim and every opportunity we had on a loose ball that was in the air, we went for it 100-percent," Land said. "I think we just fought hard and that's why we shot so many free throws."

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Moeller guard Max Land scores in the boys regional final against Centerville at the Cintas Center at Xavier University. Moeller defeated Centerville 59-41 and will move on to the Final Four in Columbus.(Photo: Jim Owens for The Enquirer)

The Crusaders were dominant in almost every statistical category, out-rebounding Centerville 31-20 and handing out 15 assists to the Elks' nine.

After a tight first quarter in which a McBride 3-pointer with just seconds to go gave the Crusaders a 13-11 lead, Moeller dominated the next two frames. Moeller outscored Centerville 27-15 in the middle quarters to easily pull ahead.

"I think it's just our chemistry," McBride said of the team's focus. "We're all good friends in the locker room. We do a lot together. I think it's just our chemistry; understanding each other's games."

Next up, the Crusaders will face Lakewood St. Edward at 6 p.m., Friday, March 22, in the state semifinal at the Jerome Schottenstein Center in Columbus.

"This whole process is something to be enjoyed," Kremer said. "The journey. That's what we focus on. Not results. Results come when you do it the right way every day. And I think these kids have really learned that and embraced it."

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Moeller head coach Carl Kremer and West Virginia head coach Bob Huggins meet after the boys regional final against Centerville at the Cintas Center at Xavier University. Moeller defeated Centerville 59-41 and will move on to the Final Four in Columbus.(Photo: Jim Owens for The Enquirer)

The Moeller Crusaders pose with their Regional Championship Trophy in the boys regional final against Centerville at the Cintas Center at Xavier University. Moeller defeated Centerville 59-41 and will move on to the Final Four in Columbus.(Photo: Jim Owens for The Enquirer)